| Title | The Menu |
| Genre | Horror, Dark Comedy |
| Director | Mark Mylod |
| Studio | Searchlight Pictures |
| Release Date | November 18, 2022 |
| Actors | Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Ralph Fiennes, John Leguizamo, Judith Light, Hong Chau |
| Rating | 5 out of 5 |
The Menu (2022) Movie Review: Genre Bending Social Commentary Not to be Missed
Hey there, movie buffs! 🍿 Let’s dive into “The Menu,” a dark comedy horror that serves up a satirical take on modern society’s obsession with art and its consumption.
The Storyline (Some spoilers)
Chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) is a master chef running an exclusive restaurant on an isolated island where customers need to be shuttled in by boat to dine, to the tune of $1250 per plate!
But that doesn’t deter the elite masses from clamoring for a seat at the table. From a career killing food critic, to a has been actor, to a philandering wealthy septuagenarian, to a bunch of entitled business bros, they’re all too happy to be experiencing the artistic genius of Chef Julian.
Amongst all of these elite diners is Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy), an enigmatic last minute date to a young foodie. Margo is the only one to see through all the pretense declaring to her date, “hes insulting you”, when the Chef serves a bread dish without the bread. All the other diners are just drooling over the schtick.
The fourth course starts the horror, all the while, Margots date is just calmly eating and enjoying his meal, as if none of the mayhem is going on.
The Chef declares that this is his final opus. His talents have been wasted on serving unappreciative, unworthy clientele that make a mockery of his skill. Trying to satiate the unsatiable. Trying to please the unpleasable. The harder he tries, the more unhappy, rundown and desperate he becomes. Until he is what he is now, a miserable shell of a person devoid of all the happiness life once offered. Serving the equally miserable, joyless, ignorant diners. The Chef states he strives for perfection, but sadly, perfection does not exist. The harder you try, the more desperate you become.
The Chef quotes MLK “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor. It must be demanded by the oppressed.” He states to his guests, “you represent the ruin of my art and my life”.
Margot understands that the chef just wants to please his customer. So Margo boldly declares that she does not like the food presented and just wants a cheeseburger. The chef is left with no other choice but to try to give her what she wants, a reluctant smile breaking through as he prepares her meal!
The dessert course is the chefs “masterpiece”, and I must say, it is just divine. Breathtaking in its absurdity. One of the most unique and interesting scenes I have ever seen in any movie. You will surely not soon forget this triumph.
The ending scene is satisfying, but I wont give it away. You must watch the film if you want to know how it ends!
Acting
Absolutely superb all around! Each actor is perfectly cast for their role and delivers a class act performance.
Script
The script is just flawless. There is not a moment of downtime. It delivers a thought provoking satirical social commentary on the relationship between the creator and the consumer. There is just so much to take away from watching this movie that it can spark discussions for days. A truly unique gem that just can not be missed.
Conclusion
“The Menu” serves up something original and thought provoking in the conversation about the connection between producer and consumer. It’s not meant to be straightforward or taken at face value. It’s satire meant to provoke emotions and discussions, and it excels at both. This film offers a unique cinematic experience, a breath of fresh air in today’s movie landscape. Don’t miss it! This one’s a must see! I’m giving it a solid 5 out of 5 stars. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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